[Gurthang]

Yes, I agree entirely. The book ending had me so worked up that I couldn't wait to run to the library and get RotK. The movie left me disappointed; I had so been looking forward to seeing Shelob and then had to wait another year! And personally, I thought TTT was somewhat dragged out. It seemed much longer than it was. I could definitely have gone for more action.

And that's a good point about 'nothing left for RotK'. There would be plenty. When watching RotK in theater, I noticed a few points that seemed strangely broken, and I expected extended edition scenes in those breaks. The first one I remember was when the camera pans up and shows a circle of trees (the crossroads) in the distance, then doesn't say/show anything more about them. Until the EE that is. The second moment I noticed was when Sam was approaching the gate at Cirith Ungol. It zoomed in on the watchers and then Sam simply passes through. Again I was expecting a scene in the extended release, but there was no scene. Personally, I think it was a bad bit of directing, especially showing those statues up close and then ignoring them.